Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-01-27


made haste 10 get into the road aud
away to place of safety, leaving Abe
Potts frozen to the ground with wonder
and despair. That night. as Roxy sat
sadly knitting socks for those who were
fighting so bravely, Toby crept up and
leant his elbows on her knees
Roxy" he whispered. 'if yer don't
see Toby no more arter ter night, don't
be skeered! I'm agoin' arter Rod'rick. "
ne said, solemnly. as his sister started
With surprise.
mo. no, Tobew winding her strong,
young arms close about his thin; little
form, you've got to stay hyah an take
keer of us now" she murmured. sootha
ingly. as gently swaying to and fro she
rocked his head in her lap. Two big
tears fell on her busy fingers, then press
ing Kiss on her sunburnt cheek, he
drew near the bright wood fire and sat
still holding his face between his hands,
watching, perhaps for the last time. the
pine knots blaze and burn; watching
till the light died down to red ashes,
then crumbled into dust. When the sun
rose again, gliding the purple mountain
peaks and touching the tiny clouds till
they glowed like molten silver, lobe
was far on his way to the Federal camp.
Morning waxed 10 noontide and still
the little figure in patched clothes cover
ed with dust Travelled unweariedly.
Now and then stopping to battle bis
feet in some wayside spring, snatching
a fallen apple kissed too holly by the
autumn sun. on and on past the swell
ing hills, fond and projecting as a moth
er's breasts. till the long shadows
stretch, like Grants arms, toward the
sea. Another turn in the rocky road
and Toby secs tents pitched closed at
hand, before which sentinels in blue
uniform pass necessarily.
Toby brings no passport, nothing bdt
brave heart and pair OF big brown
eyes. bright now with n great hope.
want to be stable boy. do you,
Johnny Reb?h laughs the soldier.
Toby pulls his forelock in imitation
of military etiquette. 1t pleases the man,
who. slapping him not unkindly on his
thin shoulders, pushes him toward the
Enclosure. There's the stable. Go see
what you can do"
Saddle the new horse for the Colonel
if you CAM can't manage him."
shouts a private.
An instant and the boys hand presses
the horses ncck-well do they know
each other. playmates for years. The
horse bends his glossy neck in loving
submission. The color comes and goes
in Toby's cheek like pulse. This is
the moment for him TO act. and like
flash he is in his usets:oned seat and
together they dash at the rude log fences
clearing it at one bound. and fly madly
across the grass out 10 the open road.
A whistling sound breaks the air near
Toby's head another and another. as
they go like a pent-up storm. Toby's
hat lies back in the camp and his brown
hair flies out straight behind him.
Without turning his head lie knows
they are following him. 1t was too
much for little Rebel 10 steal such a
horse under their very noses. and thfeo
soldiers are coming in hot pursuit
Roderick knows it too and strains
himself to the utmost; he leaps across
the parched brook, up the mountain
side, breaking the dry twigs and scat
tcrin9 the fallen leaves. Bullets were
whizzlng through the hagy all aud Toby
feels sharp, quick pain in his side-it
is nothing, he understanding strikes
his arm and it drops powerlcss to his
side, bit the faithful horse knows the
beloved form he caft.ce ara seems by
the swaying of his body 10 hold the
rider firm. The three soldiers are close
upon theiti now. Toby could hear thsir
shouts but tina! be IS sunk into sort of
dream. He seems to be gathering
sumac or the golden mountain side with
Roxy, aud looking up secs Roderick fly
ing past. Three men are close behind
him, and in front a cloud of dust rises
up like smoke from 4 battle ground.
There are more soldiers behind the
cloud-soldiefs in gray. who are cheer
ing family in lie distange. The boy
reels in his seat. but rousing himself in
time cai6hsf tlfs herse's silky name
close in his fingers.
Rodcrlck knows that Inc must win this
race for liberty. aud with Il final effort
clashes forward on the home stretch.
The shouts OF the Trays rend The air as
the next moment tbey surround the
fugti7es q
4 tall, augulaf ii.drG caiciics the boy
in his arms. but mist blinds Toby's
sTes now he camiiut see thr love and
pride that s,ftcii lie old ragged face.
can scarcely hear The broken words.
my Tobc-my brave boy, speak to
yer ole pap"
Only for moment the bic brown
eyes open wide and the skinny little
hand feels for his fathers horny fingers
"pap5' la gast,r; hesiia;inyiy, live
brhhG- pelc's huss home"